Flexible applicator



March 26, 15 9 46 E. L. BAiQNES ETAL FLEXIBLE APPLICATOR' Filed June 21 1944 R 55E 5 R Y WNW m R NAR m 55.. 7 L

Patented Mar. 26, 1946 UNITED STATE FLEXIBLE APPLICATOR.

Eugene L. Barnes and Herman A. Brenner', Bufialo, N. Y. a

e I Application June 21,4944, Serial Ne. 541,432 f In Canada May 6, 1944 r 4 Claims. (01. 25712) 7 This invention relates to a therapeutic fiexible applicator for refrigeration anaesthesia.

Refrigeration anaesthesia has been lately em ployed to an increasing extent particularly in the case of amputations and in other purposes. In most cases, however, the cooling or refrigerating process has been carried out by the application of ice packs which is rather cumbersome and diflicult to carry out efficiently.

The present invention obviates these difficulties and it is an object of' the invention to provide a flexible applicator of simple form which may be readily and efficiently wrapped around a' limb, or other part of the body where chilling or refrigeration treatment is required, and through which an even and controlled cooling effect can be obtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple applicator which can be made economically, produced in quantity, and thus made available more widely. A

A further object of the invention is to provide an applicator which may be applied and removed quickly.

With these and other objects in view the invention generally comprises an applicator made from a fabric and formed with predetermined refrigerant circulating passages, the said applicator being water-proofed, and preferably including a means attached thereto and for securing an applicator on a limb or other part of the body.

The invention will be clearly understood by reference to the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing,

Fig, 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of applicator according to the present invention, showing a number of the passages of the applicator in the process of being filled with a refrigerant, the remaining passages being unfilled and lying fiat and Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken through the applicator shown in Fig. 1 more fully to illustrate its construction.

Referring to the drawing, A indicates an applicator according to the present invention which is formed from a suitable close woven fabric and formed in two plies In and II, one overlying the other. The fabric plies are secured together ad- Jacent their margins preferably by stitching l2 and are stitched together preferably in parallel rows as at l3 to form a plurality of fluid circulating channels 14 more clearly illustrated in Fig.

The channels gasshown in Fig. 1 are so formed as to provide a continuous tortuous path for the fluid, havingan inlet at I 5 designed to carry the inlet tube l6 and an outlet at if? designed to receive the outlettube iii. The inlet tube l6 and outlet tube l8 form in effect nipples to which suitable tubing l9 may be connected. I Preferably the applicator has connected thereto the applying strap members 20 which may be applied acrosso'ne side and secured thereto or may be connected merely at the side marginal edges of the applicator. The members 20 are preferably also of the same material as the body of the applicator and are designed subsequently to receive suitable fastening means such as the buckles 2| and suitable edgings such as metal facings 22 may be applied to the tongues 23.

When the applicator is completely formed and preferably including the securing straps, it is coated with a suitable water-proofing agent such as latex, for instance, or any other suitable agent. In this connection it may conveniently be dipped in or sprayed with the water-proofing agent or have the water-proofing agent applied in any practical manner. A close woven fabric is desirable which will receive a coating of'the waterproofing agent but which will prevent penetration of such agent therethrough.

The inlet and outlet tubes are preferably inserted in their proper channels before the waterproofing of the applicator and after the waterproofing step has been carried out the tubes'like- Wise are coated with waterproofing material as will also be the case with the straps 20 and tongues 23. The buckles may then be applied to the straps and the metal facings also where desired.

Any suitable circuit or circuits for the refrigerating material may be provided and while a continuous circuit has been shown in Fig. 1 it will be clear that multiple circuits might be employed.

In use the applicator is conveniently applied to and strapped around the contact therewith and refrigerating fiuid is passed rapidly through the circuit or circuits in view of the poor conductivity of the rubber-like covering, in order to effect rapid and eflicient heat transfer. This, therefore, wil1 permit an intimate contact with the limb or other part being cooled or refrigerated and by reason of the fabric base ballooning of the applicator when under pressure is avoided.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the applicator provides advantages over the prior art. Not only does it provide a simple and practical 2. unit which may be quickly applied and quickly plurality of tube-like passages therein having inlet and outlet openings, for the passage therethrough of a refrigerant, inlet and outlet conportion of the body for refrigerating selected areas thereof.

3. A flexible therapeutic applicator comprising a unit formed from two superposed plies of flexible textile material stitched together ad.ia

cent their margins and stitched intermediate their margins to form a plurality of'tube-like passages therein having inlet and outlet openings, f or 'the passage therethrough of a refrigerant, said openings designed to receive inlet and outlet conduits, said unit having a water-proof coating applied thereto and being designed towrap aroun'da portion of the body for refrigerating duits disposed in and projecting from said inlet and outlet openings, said unit'having a water-" proof coating applied thereto and having fastening means to secure said unit around a pore 7 tion of the body for refrigerating selected-areas thereof.

'2. A flexible therapeutic'applicator compris ing a unit formed from two superposedplies of flexible textile material secured together to form a plurality of tube-like passagesthereinfhaving inlet and outlet openingsffor'the passage therethrough of a refrigerant, inlet-' and outlet con duits disposed in and projecting from said inlet and outlet openings, securing strapmembers of similar material to the plies forming the ".unit secured to the latter; said unit including said COD". duits and strap members having a 'water proof coating applied thereto,"said'unit being designed tobe secured by said strap'members' around a selected areas thereof.

'4. A'fiexible'therapeutic applicator comprising a unit formed from two superposed plies of flexible material stitched together adjacent their -marginal edges and stitched between said mar ginal edges to form a plurality of tube-like passages therein having inlet and outlet openings, for the passage therethrough of a refrigerant,

inlet and outlet conduits, disposed within -and projecting from said'inlet and outlet openings,

a pluralityof strap memberssecured'to said unit adjacent its margins'and projecting outwardly therefrom, said unit including said conduits and strap members having a-water-pr oof coatingfapplied thereto, said unitbeing designed to heapplied to a portion of the body'for' refrigerating selected areas thereof. p r

EUGENE L. BARNES.

HERMAN A. BRENNER; g 

